A personal injury expert has dismissed a petition which called on elderly drivers over the age of 65 to retest in order to keep driving on UK roads.
The expert said drivers shouldn’t be written off the roads because of their age as there are a number of other factors to consider.
One of them looks at the driver’s competency as older motorists may have visual impairment and mobility problems.
These factors would be considered for any driver, Craig Delahaye explained as medication for any driver can causing drowsiness, but may be more common in over 65s.
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DVLA rules require motorists to renew their driving licence when they turn 70
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The current DVLA rules require motorists to renew their driving licence when they turn 70, but a recent petition asked for the age range to be brought forward by five years.
The petition was launched by Deniss Fomins who called on the Government to act and require Britons to retake their driving test when they reach 65 years old, if they want their licence to remain valid.
Craig Delahaye, associate director of legal operations at National Accident Helpline said as long as drivers remain on top of their health and visit a GP if they feel that certain aspects of their lifestyle is affecting their ability to drive safely, then age shouldn’t be a problem.
He said: “If driving is a necessity for them, then it may be possible to tweak some of these factors.
“This includes visiting the GP to change the medication they’re on or the optician to modify a prescription. However, the GP may also advise that, for their own safety, it’s best to stop driving all together.”
However he warned that if drivers neglect to inform the DVLA of any health-risks, they risk facing a hefty fine of £1,000.
This could also potentially invalidate their insurance as insurers may regard failure to inform about a medical condition as non-disclosure and refuse to pay out on a claim, if an accident occurs, he added.
Offering drivers some tips to avoid fines or dangers on the road, Delahaye noted how planning ahead when travelling can make all the difference.
He commented: “Drivers should always be keeping on top of the latest driving changes and general knowledge of their vehicles. This includes even having a few refresher lessons if necessary.
“Drivers should also consider that their car needs to be safe to drive, so it must be properly taxed, have a valid MOT (unless it is under three years old), be serviced regularly and they must be insured to drive it.”
Britons with vision issues are currently required to wear glasses or contact lenses every time they drive and meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuteness of at least decimal 0.5 measured on the Snellen scale.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, also criticised the petition calling for retesting older drivers but did support proposals for eyesight check-ups.
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if drivers neglect to inform the DVLA of any health-risks, they risk facing a £1,000 fine
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He said: “One thing that would allow all drivers – not just those at an arbitrary old age – to help judge their fitness to drive would be compulsory eye tests when licences are renewed.
“Many families can and do play their part by having that difficult discussion with an elderly loved one who might need to vacate the driver’s seat.
The petition closes on February 22 and if it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
